Anaesthesiologists have urged the Federal Government to strengthen anaesthesia services, invest in essential medical equipment and improve support for specialists responsible for keeping patients safe before, during and after surgery.
The experts made the call in a joint statement on Friday to commemorate World Anaesthesia Day 2026, observed annually on October 16, under the theme, “Before, During and Beyond Surgery.”
World Anaesthesia Day marks the anniversary of the first successful public demonstration of anaesthesia in 1846, a breakthrough that transformed modern surgery by making pain-free operations possible.
In the statement signed by the Head of Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine at Nisa Garki Hospital, Dr. Julian Ojebo, the specialists stressed that safe surgery depended on safe anaesthesia and comprehensive perioperative care.
Ojebo emphasised the importance of thorough preoperative assessments in identifying potential risks, preparing patients for surgery and preventing avoidable complications.
“Before any surgery, we must carefully assess the patient’s medical history, co-existing illnesses and potential risks. That assessment helps us identify patients who need optimisation, choose the safest anaesthetic plan, and prevent avoidable complications,” he said.
He warned that inadequate support for pre-anaesthesia clinics and poor patient preparation could increase the risk of complications during and after surgical procedures.
According to him, many preventable perioperative incidents in Nigeria are associated with inadequate preoperative evaluation, weak referral systems and delays in seeking medical attention.
The Chief Resident in Anaesthesia at the hospital, Dr. Kolawole Shorunke, highlighted the importance of continuous patient monitoring and functional medical equipment throughout surgical procedures.
“During surgery, the anaesthesiologist is the patient’s life support. We monitor the heart, blood pressure, oxygen levels, breathing, and level of consciousness every second; we manage pain and blood loss, and respond instantly to any emergency,” Shorunke said.
He explained that effective anaesthesia required not only skilled personnel but also functional anaesthetic machines, patient-monitoring devices, reliable oxygen supplies, emergency medications and uninterrupted electricity.
Shorunke urged governments and hospital administrators to prioritise the procurement, maintenance and replacement of essential anaesthesia equipment, particularly in public hospitals.
On postoperative care, a Senior Registrar in Anaesthesia, Dr. Aisha Muazu, said the responsibilities of anaesthesiologists extended beyond the operating theatre to ensuring safe recovery and effective pain management.
“Our work does not end when surgery ends. Beyond surgery, we ensure patients wake up safely, control their pain, breathe well, and quickly identify and treat complications like nausea, low blood pressure, or respiratory problems,” Muazu said.
She noted that effective postoperative pain management could promote faster recovery, enable earlier mobilisation and reduce hospital stays.
Muazu called for stronger post-anaesthesia care units and improved acute pain management services to enhance patient recovery and surgical outcomes.
Also speaking, a Senior Resident, Dr. Chidera Jane Obi-Ekekwe, said this year’s theme underscored the continuous role anaesthesiologists play in protecting patients throughout the surgical process.
“Before surgery, we prepare and optimise; during surgery, we protect life; and beyond surgery, we ensure patients recover without pain and without complications,” she said.
Obi-Ekekwe added that improving surgical safety required a healthcare system that adequately supported anaesthesia services at every stage of patient care.
The specialists called for stronger government policies and increased funding to expand access to safe surgical and anaesthesia services nationwide.
They also advocated more training opportunities and better retention incentives for anaesthesiologists and nurse anaesthetists, improved access to essential medicines and medical consumables, and the inclusion of anaesthesia and perioperative care in national health insurance coverage.
According to the experts, such investments would help reduce preventable deaths and complications, improve access to safe surgery, retain skilled healthcare professionals and strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“No patient should die or suffer disability because safe anaesthesia was not available or affordable,” the statement said.
The specialists reaffirmed their commitment to patient safety and urged the government, hospital administrators and development partners to provide the equipment, skilled workforce and support systems needed to deliver safe care before, during and beyond surgery.
